Open Data Insight of the Day

In 2021, the Canton of Basel-Stadt recorded a total of 2 074 births, resulting in a birth rate of 10.3 per 1,000 inhabitants. November was the month with the highest number of births at 186, while December saw the fewest with 154. The distribution of newborns was almost even, with 1 031 girls and 1 043 boys. Swiss newborns accounted for 1 181 of the births, while 893 were foreign. The share of foreign babies was 43.1%, which is higher than the foreign population share of 36.9%.

The average age of mothers in Basel-Stadt was 33.0 years, while fathers averaged 35.9 years. The youngest mother was 18, and the oldest was 66, with six teenage mothers recorded. Swiss mothers had an average age of 33.0 years, slightly younger than foreign mothers, who averaged 33.0 years.

Comparing 2021 to 2005, there were notable increases in total births, up by 396, and the birth rate, which rose from 9.0 to 10.3 per 1,000 inhabitants. The share of foreign babies decreased slightly from 43.7% to 43.1%. The average age of mothers increased from 30.4 years in 2005 to 33.0 years in 2021. The number of teenage mothers significantly decreased from 33 in 2005 to just 6 in 2021.

In 2021, the top three names for girls were Emilia (12), Elena (11), and Emma (9), while for boys, Noah (15), Luca (11), and Liam (10) were the most popular. Compared to 2006, these names represent new leaders in popularity. There were 185 new girls' names and 177 new boys' names introduced. Examples of new girls' names include Sama, Emélie, and Lilyana, while new boys' names featured Balduin, Ivo, and Leevi.